Right now
Live from USGS gauge 06714000 and National Weather Service.
What to tie on now
- Flies
- Midges #20-22, small BWO nymph #20, San Juan worm, small streamer for carp and browns
- Rig
- Two-fly nymph rig with 5x, indicator set a bit deeper than the water. Slow seams below riffles.
Best flow range here: about 100 to 500 cfs. The live flow above tells you where today sits.
Flies checked against local shop reports on Nov 15. Ask at the local fly shop for what hatched this morning. They know before we do.
- Water
- Urban South Platte from Chatfield to downtown and beyond
- Drive from Denver
- You're already there; it runs through town
- Access
- Greenway parks along the river trail, including Confluence Park
- Best for
- Carp on the fly, smallmouth bass, the odd big trout
- Season
- Carp spring through fall; trout in cooler months
- Gauge
- USGS 06714000, South Platte at Denver
- Dogs
- Leashed dogs on the greenway trail
Where to park
Confluence Park
- About a dozen free spots between the aquarium and REI. Otherwise it's metered street parking (often 2-hour) or paid lots on Platte St.
- Free parking also at Fishback Park and City of Cuernavaca Park, both on the river trail.
Lots, fees and hours change. Check posted signs when you arrive.
Overview
The South Platte through Denver isn't pretty everywhere, but it's a real fishery. Carp over 30 inches cruise the flats, smallmouth bass have moved in, and Denver Trout Unlimited has helped bring trout back to stretches like Confluence Park. You can fish it on a lunch break.
What you'll catch
- Carp: the main event. Sight-fish them on the flats in clear water.
- Smallmouth bass: around structure and rocky runs.
- Trout: fewer, but some big ones, mostly in cooler weather.
Carp on the fly
Carp fishing is mostly stalking: walk slowly, spot a feeding fish, and drop a small nymph or carp fly a foot in front of its nose. Light tippet breaks, so use 3x–4x.
Where to go
Confluence Park downtown, where Cherry Creek meets the river, is the easy starting point. The greenway trail runs along the river for miles, with parks and access points along the way.
Questions anglers ask
- Are there trout in the South Platte in Denver?
- Yes, in some stretches, especially in cooler months. Carp and smallmouth are more common.
- Where can I fish the South Platte downtown?
- Confluence Park and the greenway parks along the river trail.
- What is the Carp Slam?
- Denver Trout Unlimited's annual carp-on-the-fly tournament on the urban South Platte, which raises money for river restoration.
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